I thought I had hemorrhoids. My ID Dr. says I have perirectal ulcers and a fistula. The referral to GI generated an appointment for a flex sigmoidoscopy and possible biopsy next week. Herpes and syphilis have been ruled out. Is there a connection between AIDS and inflammatory bowel disease--maybe even Crohn's disease? I also have porphyria cutanea tarda. Is there a connection there as well? I was diagnosed 12/98 with CD4 of 12 and viral load of 187,000. Now am Cd4-340, viral load-ND. I am 54 years old, male. AIDS/drug side effects--diarrhea and fatigue.

Response from Dr. Feinberg

Perianal ulcers and fistulae can occur in HIV-s as well, and are not necessarily part of inflammatory bowel disease (which itself is not associated with HIV). These problems can happen to people who practice anal intercourse, and can sometimes be caused by a specific organism, such as Herpes simplex virus. In other cases, no specific cause is found and the problem is treated with sitz baths (warm soapy water soaks), antibiotics, and occasionally surgery if the fistulae or fissures don't heal by themselves.

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.